This is a classic ranch-style home in South Carson City located approximately a mile from the Stewart Indian School (SIS). Over the years, it became a bit run down and needed a bit of TLC. In 2019, the house was put on the market. Due to its condition, we worried that it would be purchased for the land and the house would be demolished. If that happened a piece of Nevada history would be lost forever.
2019
If memory serves, Randall, Burton and Johnny were the stonemasons who laid the stonework for the facade which circles the entire house. The Wungnema Brothers not only attended the SIS, their father, Ernest, was a master stonemason who taught at the school. Thus, their skill, experience and talent are something to be treasured.
2019
February 2022 – new roof, ready to take on the weather!
The home was sold during the lockdown and the new owners are in the process of restoring the home. They have put quite a bit of work and sweat equity into the home’s exterior, restoring it to its former quiet charm. The stonework was left untouched and still graces the house. We can hardly wait until the project is completed.
April 2022 – This beauty is ethereal and appears to float
So, we found a couple of projects that were probably created by Native American stonemasons. We give them an Ivory Soap chance of being Native American in origin – you know, 99 and 44/100%. We base this on the appearance of the completed projects and the fact that both projects were completed by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC had a satellite program called the Civilian Conservation Corps – Indian Division (CCC – ID).
Logo, CCC – ID (Photo: BIA)
Let’s talk about the Civilian Conservation Corps – Indian Division (CCC – ID). This program was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s CCC, which began life in 1933. Both the CCC and CCC – ID were part of the president’s New Deal Program. These programs were created to offset the high unemployment rate our country faced at the time. The CCC employed single men between the ages of 18 and 25. These men worked in programs designed to improve America’s public lands, forests, parks and tribal lands.
Records indicate that 3 million men enlisted in the CCC. Out of those 3 million men, approximately 85,000 were Native American and many of those individuals served in the CCC – ID. The CCC – ID program was originally called the Indian Emergency Conservation Work Program (IECW) with an initial funding amount of $5,875.200. The program was renamed in 1937.
John Collier, Commissioner, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) requested the formation of the CCC – ID in 1933. Mr. Collier hoped that the CCC – ID would benefit Native Americans living on Indian reservations and tribal lands. Both Native Americans and the BIA lobbied for a program independent from the CCC as they objected to the U.S. Military providing oversight for the CCC on tribal lands.
The program’s focus was the employment of Native Americans on federally recognized reservations to the reservations. The program’s goal was to preserve tribal lands, while promoting sustainable ranching and farming. Projects included, but were not limited to, road construction, erosion control, reforestation, and water resource development. Generally, speaking, the members of the CCC – ID benefitted more than those men serving in the CCC as there was no age restriction for enlistment and families could join the men on the projects.
Enlistees in both the CCC and the CCC – ID were paid $30.00 a month. They sent $25.00 of that to their families back home. In the Great Depression, $30.00 a month was considered a decent wage. Consider that a 1933-dollar equals a $21.28 in today’s economy.
Members of the CCC – ID usually labored on tribal lands or on projects near the tribal or reservation lands. We found two New Deal projects with stonework, stonework that we believe the Native Americans serving in either the CCC or the CCC – ID completed. One project is in Storey County, Nevada and the other project is in Lamoille Canyon in Elko County.
Construction on the Lamoille CCC Camp began in 1933 and concluded in 1937. In 1939, ownership of the camp was signed over to the Boy Scouts of America. It is thought that the baseball field on the grounds was the work of the CCC. Sadly, the clubhouse was destroyed by a wildfire in 2018. All that remains are the foundation and the chimney.
Look at the fireplace and the foundations. They are the work of at least three different stonemasons. The stonework on the left side of the foundation and at the bottom of the chimney resembles the stonework found at the SIS. The stones are faced and the stonework is precise and tight. The keystone in the fireplace resembles the fireplaces at SIS. The stonework of the other two masons resembles stonework we have seen executed by other Native American stonemasons. All of the stonework is a joy to behold and should be preserved for future generations.
Note: Lamoille is sometimes spelled Lemoille. The preferred spelling is with an “A”.
Foundation and Chimney, Lamoille CCC Clubhouse (Photo: Richard A. Walker) Note the differences in stonework in the foundation, the chimney and the steps)
Front side of CCC Clubhouse (Photo: Richard A. Walker)
We have not had the opportunity to visit the clubhouse in person. We hope to do so this summer, along with a visit to Thunder Mountain, the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe of the Duckwater Reservation and Elko. If you get there before us, please share your photographs and thoughts.
The Geiger Grade lookout and Park was completed in 1938 with the assistance of the CCC. The lookout and park are on Route 341 which connects Washoe County and Storey County. We believe that Native American stonemasons were employed on the project due to the proximity of reservations in Carson City and Sparks, Nevada.
Geiger Grade – the Early Years (Internet photo)
The stonemasons would have either been employed by the CCC – ID or by the Nevada Highway Department (Now, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT). That agency employed day laborers on the project.
While some of the stonework in the park is not the polished, finished product of a seasoned stonemason, other stonework found in the park resembles the stonework we have seen in documented examples of Native American stonework. As stated previously, we haven’t been able to verify the stonemasons who worked on these two projects.
circular perfection
However, based on the stonework and the proximity to Native American tribes and reservation land to each project, we believe there is an excellent possibility that Native American stonemasons completed some, if not all, of the stonework at both Lamoille and Geiger Grade. Take a look at the curvature of the stone trash barrel – that is the work of a master stonemason, such as one who trained at the Stewart Indian School.
Going down
Entrance
Placement for signage pole
Entrance to the restroom
Storage container?
Through the restroom window
Restroom & sign based
Restroom – other entrance
The views from the park and lookout are beyond compare. We urge you to visit this site and enjoy the quiet beauty spread before you. We spent a spring morning there, exploring, enjoying, oohing and aahing at how nature and man came together so perfectly. If you have an opportunity, we urge you to take the jaunt to Virginia City and explore the park and lookout. It’s well worth your time.
Looking west from the park
For proof positive of the CCC – ID’s participation in these projects, we need to review the employment records of the CCC – ID. The BIA is the custodian of the CCC – ID records, which are located at the National Archives Records Administration’s Seattle and Denver regional facilities. The CCC – ID records aren’t indexed and few are microfilmed. Verifying CCC – ID enlistee information would be an excellent research project for a grad student.
So, until we can verify employment, we are going on the belief that Native American stonemasons (serving in either the CCC or the CCC – ID) assisted with the stonework at Geiger Lookout and Park and the Lamoille CCC Camp Clubhouse.
Look at these gorgeous gates, guarding the eternal sleep of our nearest and dearest. These gates are the creation of Randall Wungnema. We’re not sure when the gates were erected. We think it could have been sometime in the 1960s or 1970s. Possibly in 1979, when the cemetery entrance was moved 500 feet to the east to accommodate the Roop Street expansion and realignment. Originally, Roop Street ended at the Civil War monument at the extreme northern edge of the cemetery. The street now bypasses the cemetery to the west.
These gates are a monument to function and art. The gates are a thing of beauty and are still in use today. Randall also constructed similar gateposts on the west side of Carson City.
Right inside the first set of gates is a grave site outlined in Rhyolite. Coincidence? Good question!
And get this, a mere stone’s throw from these gates lies the graves of Frederick and Charlotte Snyder. Frederick is the former superintendent of the Stewart Indian School(SIS). His efforts revolutionized the stone masonry program at SIS and brought Randall’s family to Nevada. Without his efforts, Northern Nevada would not be home to the many wonderful pink stone creations that grace our landscape!
West Gates – these lead into the original section of the cemetery
Middle Gates – these lead into the Veterans’ section of the cemetery (to the left of the entrance)
East Gates – these lead into the religious section of the cemetery
We think we should mention that the last set of gates on the east side of the cemetery are not open to the public. Why? Well, it seems that when these gates are open, most drivers charge through the gates and hit the tree on the right hand side of the photograph. We don’t know why – that tree seems like it would be easy to miss.
This entrance originally led to the Catholic section of the cemetery. The Catholic Church signed their interests in the Catholic Section over to the City of Carson in the 1970s. The Latin phrase over the gates “beati morbid qui in domino mortuntor” translates to ” Blessed are those who die in the Lord.”
One of the gates is dedicated to the memory of Charles J. “Mac” McGuigan. Who he? Many people have asked that question. Turns out he was an area undertaker who worked for Capitol City Mortuary (now FitzHenry’s Funeral Home). He must have been someone special to have one of the gates dedicated in his honor.
We think this post is the appropriate place to mention, that under Nevada Law, it is illegal to publicly display or share photographs of Native American burial sites. The Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (NSHPO) is the agency responsible for enforcing the NRS that protects Nevada American burial sites in Nevada.
From the NSHPO’s Web site: “PROTECTION OF NATIVE AMERICAN BURIAL SITES: In 1989, the Nevada legislature passed a law (NRS 383.150 to 383.190) to protect Native American graves on private and public land. This law was updated with the passage of Senate Bill 244 in the 2017 Legislature.
The Nevada legislation protecting Native American burials is included in the portion of the Nevada Revised Statutes that covers the State Historic Preservation Office (NSHPO). The full text of this law is presented here (https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-383.html), and we urge all concerned parties to read it carefully.
Because it covers private land and county land, this legislation has more far-reaching impact in some respects than any other laws in Nevada concerning human remains. Note that under Nevada law, it is illegal to publicly display or exhibit Native American remains except during a funeral ceremony (NRS 383.180.3(b)). This may include television, photographs, exhibits, and lectures using human bones (Dansie et al., 1994, page 9).
It is also illegal to find an Native American burial and not report it, even if on private property, and it is illegal to possess or sell a Native American burial or artifacts from an Native American grave.”
So, if you are exploring the wonder that is Nevada and find a Native American burial site, do the right thing. Leave the site alone and report its location to the NSHPO and the nearest tribal office. Do not dig up the remains and treat them as those they are souvenirs of your outing. Remember the remains are your fellow human beings and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.
In the 1970s and 1980s, one of the “It” places to eat was the Cabin in the Sky up on the Comstock. The Cabin was the place to see and be seen. This was the place for the view, the steaks and the drinks. And, occasionally, one might catch a glimpse of the owner, Joe Conforte (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Conforte).
Between the dining room, the bar and the dance floor, the Cabin was large enough to host any occasion – wedding receptions, wakes, holiday parties and the annual Fireman’s Dinner. The Cabin is located on the road into Virginia City and people from Reno, Carson City and beyond made their way to the Cabin.
Contributing to the ambiance of the Cabin was the stonework of Randall Wungnema. He was responsible for the brickwork around the fireplace and mirror. He was also responsible for the stonework in the bar.
The Cabin has not been operational since 2004 and has sat vacant since that time. The Comstock Mining Company now owns the Cabin. Officials at the mining company graciously allowed the Wungnema family and friends to tour the Cabin in 2017.
Once in the door, the first thing we noticed was the fireplace. One of the owners painted the bricks a dull brown and covered the paint with a gold, glittery finish. This was not the fireplace the family remembered. The Wungnemas were disappointed that one of their father’s creations had been mistreated so.
Our apologies for the photographs. The power was off at the Cabin and these are the best photographs that we were able to take with flash photographs. Think about this – if the stonework looks this good in subpar lighting, think how it looks in real life!
Close up of the paint on the fireplace
Mirror over the fireplace
Fireplace and mirror
However, all was not lost. The stonework in the bar had been left intact. We could see the precision and artistry with which the stones had been cut, polished and set. To us, this is a masterpiece of stone working. We consider it one of Randall’s finest creations.
Looking down at the bar step
Bar front
Behind the bar
Note the gold grout
The stonework within the stonework
Now, some people might take offense to the glitter and glitz among the stones. Kindly consider who commissioned the bar and remember that the bar is a reflection of Joe’s personality and taste. The glitter and glitz does not take away from the superb workmanship that went into the stonework.
On the cold winter nights, people would gather in front of the fireplace and visit with one another over serious adult beverages.
During the hot summer days on the high desert, people sought refuge from the heat at the bar, enjoying cool drinks. The Cabin and its interior brick and stonework contributed to the community. They have their place in Nevada history and deserve to be protected and enjoyed by the community once more.
The Comstock Mining Company assured us that it has no plans to demolish the Cabin. Indeed, there is talk of converting the Cabin into a tourist center. This is a fabulous idea! Naturally, we had our own thoughts on the restoration. We suggested that the paint be removed from the fireplace and that the bar be used to provide refreshments to the tourists and locals alike.
If you have a chance, drive by the Cabin, stop to take in the view and pray that the building and its remarkable stonework is preserved for future generations to enjoy.
What can we say about the Stewart Indian School (SIS) that hasn’t already been said? So much has been written about the school, that there’s really nothing for us to say.
Carson City’s Official Christmas Tree Ornament for 2019
We can start by reminding people that the school is the only Indian Boarding School that is not on a reservation. That the Nevada Legislature authorized its construction and funded that construction, then sold the school to the federal government – the only Indian Boarding School ever to be built in this manner.
We can tell you that the SIS is located on 109 acres south of Carson City and that the campus holds powerful memories (good and bad) for its alumni and their descendants.
We can tell you that the 2015 Nevada Legislature (https://www.leg.state.nv.us/) charged the Nevada Indian Commission with providing oversight for the use, preservation and protection of the SIS.
We can tell you that the many of the buildings on the campus are in dire need of restoration. These functional pieces of art tell the story of the students who attended the school, who created the buildings. If the buildings fall past the point of repair, then the stories of their creators are lost to time. We believe that history forgotten is history repeated.
Some of the photographs in this post show the decay and disrepair. Those photographs are not meant as disrespect. Rather, they are here to illustrate the immense amount of work required to restore SIS to her former glory and to honor the students who attended and built the school.
The State of Nevada owns SIS and with ownership comes responsibility. No doubt money – and lots of it – is required to undertake the Herculean task of repairing/restoring the buildings on the campus. We can start with asking the 2023 Nevada Legislature for funds. Then, understanding that funding from the legislature is iffy, we can look elsewhere for the money or other means of restoring the buildings.
First, SIS is on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This means that there are tax breaks, grants and other endowments available to the State of Nevada as the owner of the property. These financial opportunities are only available to properties listed on the NRHP. We believe that this is something the State’s financial experts should consider and explore.
Second, there is a housing crisis in Carson City. There are homes at SIS that could be used to offset the crisis if they were restored. The State could partner with a non-profit – such a Habitat for Humanity – and working with the families on a wait list, restore the homes one by one. Perhaps, Lowe’s or Home Depot could be approached for donations of building materials. Once restored, the homes could be rented out for a reasonable rate. We believe that the SIS alumni and their descendants should be first on the wait list, then Native Americans, then all others.
And lastly, we like to reiterate that we have heard whispers that the State of Nevada wants to renovate the dormitories and the cafeteria. Once renovated, the rooms could be rented to over-night visitors who would be able to take their meals in the cafeteria, which still has all of its original kitchen/baking equipment.
Perhaps, the cafeteria could focus on Native American cuisine. People in Carson City and the surrounding communities are always looking for new eating experiences and they are faithful to the ones that provide good food along with a sense of community. We think an operational cafeteria at Stewart would fill both those requirements.
The kitchen and bakery has the capacity to feed 500 students and staff three times a day. So, it seems that between the kitchen, bakery, dining room and dorms, at least that many guests could be accommodated daily.
Plus, consider this – mail order baked goods. We believe that providing baked goods from the bakery at Stewart is a viable and profitable option. The goodies could be sent via UPS, Fed Ex or the USPS. And get this, if the cafeteria also feeds the state employees working on the campus, there are tax breaks associated with the operation of the cafeteria.
Dining Hall, Kitchen, Bakery
The money generated from the house and room rental plus the revenue from the food/baked good sales would be deposited into a special budget category dedicated to the preservation and maintenance of Stewart. Those funds would not be deposited into the State’s General Fund. The financial wizards at the State should have no problem setting up this special budget category. After all, they’re wizards!
With all that being said, we’d like to share with you some of the many photographs we’ve taken of Stewart over the past five years. Note that not all of the photographs are captioned.
Please enjoy and if you have memories or photographs, you like to share, we’d love to see them!
Stewart –
A 6-car garage
The Student Store (we think!)
One of the residences still in use
Fountain or planter?
Mail Call! The USPS on campus. Yep, we used to get our mail here
This is one great walkway!
Law enforcement agencies across Nevada train at Stewart
The steam generating plant. Steam was once used to heat the buildings and ran through a series of underground steam tunnels.
The interior of the steam generating plant
Another view of the steam generating plant
Pump house for the water tower & steam generating plant plus the buildings?
The Water Tower
Interior of one of the unused residences
Door’s open – Old Gym
One of the entrances to the underground steam tunnels. How cool would it be to explore those tunnels?
Massive Cottonwood
Ancient Apple Tree
Exhibit Grand Opening of the Stewart Cultural Center & Museum
Exhibit Grand Opening of the Stewart Cultural Center & Museum
A room in the Cultural Center
Another room in the Cultural Center
Blue prints for what building?
This is now the gift shop where you can purchase all sorts of merch!C I S = Carson Indian School
The Old Gym – Before the new roof was installed
Seems the State of Nevada uses Stewart to store micro-wave relay equipment
Storage shed
Interior of the storage shed
Night Moves –
The Cultural Center
Street light
Street light with dust
The Water Tower
Reservation Principal’s House –
We believe this is the Reservation Principal’s House. What’s does a Reservation Principal do? Good question! Don’t have a clue! We’ve looked and other than being identified as an employee at SIS, we could not find a job description for Reservation Principal.
Reservation Principal’s House
Reservation Principal’s House – side view
What we find interesting is that the house is not on the Stewart Campus. It’s located off-campus on the west end of Gibson Avenue. And, when the federal government signed Stewart over to the State of Nevada, this property was not included in the transfer. The house, and the property it sits on, belongs to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
Road leading to the Reservation Principal’s House
This is a gorgeous home, just in need of a little TLC. We have vague memories of playing here with child hood friends. As such, it makes us sad to see it ignored for so long. Perhaps, the BIA would consider selling it to someone who would restore and live in it (hint, we would!).
V&T Depot –
The V&T Depot, Stewart Campus – now being used by a state agency for storage and office space. Note the loading doors on the right side of the photograph
Did you know that there is a railroad depot on the grounds of SIS? Yes, there is! The V&T Railroad operated trains to and through the campus from 1906 through 1946. Passenger and freight service was provided to the School once a day for 40 years. The V&T ceased operation in 1950 and all the rails were removed by 1953. So, sadly, there’s no chance of incorporating the School into the route of the V&T Railway (a modern day version of the V&T Railroad).
V&T Schedule showing Stewart as one of the stops
Train #2 arrived at SIS every day at approximately 9:35 a.m., dropping goods, supplies and passengers at the Stewart Indian School train station, then it headed south to Douglas County.
Before the Depot – waiting for the train at Stewart (internet photo)
There are only two V&T depots in Carson City – one is located in Carson City at the corner of Carson and Washington Streets and the other depot is this one on the Stewart Campus. The depot in Carson City is constructed of wood while this depot is a fine example of the stonework executed by the masonry instructors and students at SIS.
Note: Over the 4th of July Weekend 2022, the Nevada State Railroad Museum will be hosting the Great Western Steam up, celebrating all things V&T, including celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the completion of Nevada’s famous Virginia & Truckee Railroad Other railroad museums and railroads are graciously sharing their locomotives for this occasion,
For event information and to purchase tickets, see https://greatwesternsteamup.com/. Also, the State of Nevada and the State of California are trading historic locomotives for two years (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9v-0mT9pK4).
S Hill –
Did you know that there is a school tradition, found primarily in the west, of painting the hills or mountains near a high school or university with the school’s initials? Stones are placed in the shape of a school’s initials and then painted white. For some reason, these stone initials are known as “Mountain Monograms.”
These monograms are generally seen only on the West Coast due to the rugged terrain (i.e., steep hills and mountains) found west of the Mississippi. Generally speaking, the initials are located on a steep hill or mountain near the school. The locations are generally accessible only by foot or 4 wheel drive.
This tradition began in the early 1900s. The initials were used as an identifier for a school. A school’s initial was/is a matter of pride and painting the hills with initials is a practice that continues to this day for many schools.
“S” Hill
The students at Stewart participated in this tradition and painted a “S” on the hills north of the school. They maintained the “S” until the school closed in 1980. The “S” is still visible today and even though it hasn’t officially been maintained since that time, it still looks vibrant. We remember back in the day when it came time for the “S” to be repainted – there would be a flurry of activity on the hill, people climbing while the trucks carrying the paint and equipment made a slow climb up the hill.
You know what? We could organize a group of people to climb/4 wheel to the “S” and repaint it. Wouldn’t that be fun? It’d take some doing to organize, however, it could be done! What do you think?
